Blackpella Poem by LLOYD BRADFORD (BRAD) SYKE

Blackfella, big pella
Stands tall, with spear
In yoga pose
Silhouetted against a burning backdrop
Dreaming interrupted
By invading whitefella
Uninvited
Warra, warra!
But whitefella came bearing gifts
Of smallpox, strychnine and holy spirit
In return taking land
Women
Children
Blackfella stands tall
Proud
With fear, well-founded
Blackfella had crops
Cultivation
Education
Health
Society
Community
But whitefella brought his own
Better one, he said
So why did so many blackfellas wind up dead?
Blackfella owns the land
Land owns blackfella
Always did, always was, always will be
Some things whitefella can't take away
Try though he might
Dignity
Spirituality
Family
Community
Country
Country still there when land go
Country still there when whitefella go
Country still there when blackfella go
Land big, brown, wet & dry
Country go deep
Carved by rivers & rainbow serpents
Man go, country stay
Big country
Big heart
Big spirit